Swimming pool at Bison Polo Grounds?

By K. Srinivas Reddy

HYDERABAD, JUNE 6. The State Government would like to construct a swimming pool of international standard at the Bison Polo Grounds, adjacent to the Gymkhana Grounds in Secunderabad, for the National Games 2002, but is not sure of getting the required land under lease from the Ministry of Defence.

The Government is unsure about the proposed venue because it has already sought a part of the Bison Polo Grounds for constructing the main stadium complex.

The main stadium complex, consisting of an ultra-modern outdoor stadium and an indoor stadium, is to be built partly in the Gymkhana Grounds and partly in the Bison polo Grounds in 50 acres of land.

In this backdrop, the Government is toying with the idea of constructing a swimming pool on the premises of the former Central Prison in Mushirabad. The prison was already shifted to Charlapally and the premises is lying vacant.

However, there is some dissent among officials and ministers who feel that the Jail premises should be used for commercial purposes rather than for sports activity.

The Government, which is expected to transfer 50 acres of land elsewhere to the defence authorities in lieu of allotment of part of the Bison Polo Grounds in Secunderabad, was also contemplating giving up another 12 acres additionally, provided the Defence Ministry agrees to accommodate the swimming pool on the Bison ground.

In a run-up to organise the National Games, the State Government has decided to construct three new indoor stadia at a cost of Rs. 24 crores at Saroornagar for Gymnastics, Yousufguda Police Lines for Volleyball and Basketball and an air-conditioned indoor stadium for Badminton and Table Tennis at Gymkhana.

The Government also wants to construct a cycling velodrome at a cost of Rs. 3 crores, and in all probability it could be located on Osmania University campus. Sources say the university authorities will be asked to suggest a suitable site for it.

The State Cabinet, which met on Monday, discussed threadbare the arrangements to be made for organising the National Games and it was of the unanimous view that the issue of grant of lease by the Centre should be "vigorously pursued".

The Cabinet also decided to appoint an authorised committee which would take decisions regarding the conduct of games, approval of agencies for construction, approval of designs for sports infrastructure, monitoring the progress of work, etc.

The Sports Minister, Mr. T. Seetaram, would be chairman of the committee while the Home Minister, Mr. T. Devender Goud, would be its co-chairman. The DGP, Mr. H.J. Dora, would be one of the members on behalf of the Andhra Pradesh Olympic Association.

The other members would be MD of APIIC, MCH Commissioner, Vice- Chairman of HUDA, MD of Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh, Principal Secretary, Finance, and Secretary of Youth Affairs.

Sources say that the Chief Minister, Mr. N. Chandrababu Naidu, is very particular about the successful conduct of the games and building of the infrastructure and he is believed to be posting one of his close confidant IAS officers as the Joint Collector of Rangareddy district shortly.

There is a reason for this as the major components of the sports infrastructure to be developed fall in the Rangareddy district. This particular officer, due for his promotion, is likely to succeed the present Collector, Ms. Rani Kumudini Devi.

Following the financial analysis done by a private agency, M/s Kampsax Consultants, on the total cost of the Games project (without including the cost of actual conduct of the games), the Cabinet decided to approach the HUDCO for a loan of Rs. 150 crores. The other proposals include sale of residential units at Games village at Rs. 850 per sft and Rs. 1,050 per sft for row houses.

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